Typewriting machine



TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTO R N EY Jan. 5, 1932. GOING 1,839,873

YTYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR vi EN /EM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, I932.

GEGEGE G.-GOENG, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ,AS-SIGNG'R T REMINGTON TYPE- XVRITER CGMPANY, OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATZGN OF NEW YORK TYPEWRITING ivulon'inn Application filed m 18, 1929. Seri'aliTo'. 379,186.

My invention relates to ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriting' and like machines, and more specifically to automatically operating means for shifting the switching mechanfrom a neutral position where no feeding is efiectcd'to' a ribbon feeding posi-' tic-n, if for any reason such switching mechanism shouldbe accidentally retained in the neutral position. i r

The main object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide simple and efficient mechanism of the character specified.

To the above and other. ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices set'forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

in the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a typewriting machine with parts omitted, sufficient of the machine beingi hown to illustrate my invention in its embodiment therein. V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of certain of the parts shown in F ig. 1.

l have shown my invention, in the present instance, embodied in a noiseless portable typewriting machine, the devices -of the presout invention co-acting with ribbon mechanism of the character disclosed in my application Serial #363,757,filed I7, 1929'.

From certain aspects of. the present invention it may be regarded as an improvement on the construction disclosed in my said application with which it maybe readily combined without modifying, or'm'aterially modifying the existing structural features thereof. 7

l lowever, i't 'should be understood that'the invention may be employediin combination ith various forms of ribbon reversing ln'ech' nnisin and intypewriting' and like machines varying widely in character: 7

The ribbon reversing" mechanism, as'itis illustrated in the presentinstan'ce, comprises two ribbon spools I on which the ribbon 2 is ,1 wound and extends across the machine" from spool to spool. The spools are supported in ends to the side plates l ofthe machine frame.

The lowerflange 5 of each ribbon spool isv fixed to a depending sleeve or hollow shaft 6 received within a bearing sleeve 7 supported on the casting 3. The lower end of each hollow shaft 6 has a ratchet wheel S attached thereto by a set screw 9 that is threaded into a tapped opening in the hub 10 of the ratchet wheel. A controlling member 11 is pivoted at 12 to the core 13 of each ribbon spoolan'd has one arm that extends through a slot 14 in the core of the spool and against which the ribbon 2 wound on the spool bears. The other arm of the controlling member passes through the eye of a weighted interponent 15 contained within the associated hollow shaft 6 and adapted to movelongitudinally from the ineffective full-line, to the effective dotted line position in i-g. 2. When in the last mentioned position the lower end of the interpo- :nent 15 will be below its companion ratchet wheel 8, and in the ath of movement of a member 16 of the ri bon reversing mechanism, to effect a shifting of the reversing will free its controlling: member 11 permitting f i the companion interponent 15 to drop to effective position. lVhen on the other hand, ribbon is wound on either spool which may be exhausted, this shifts the companion controlling member 11 to the full line position shownin Fig. 2 and lifts the associated interp-onent 15 to ineffective position within its hollow shaft 6.'

The means by which each ratchet wheel8 is turned, and by-which the pawls that c'oa-ct with said ratchet wheels are'shifted into and out-ofeliective position will nowbe described. The various printing key levers 17 extend over a universal bar 18 connected by arms 19 to aroclrsh-aft 20 mounted at its ends to rock on pivotscrews 21 received in tapped openings inthe side plates 4 of the machine frame.

Fixed toand extending upwardly from the each i ating' lever24c pivoted at 25 to a shifting, switching or reversing member or bar Said member 26 extends from side to side of the machine and is mounted for shifting movement in the direction of its length and transversely of the machine, as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Each angular actuating lever 2e carries two pawls 27 and 28 connected together by a spring 29 that tends to force the en aging It will be seen that each pawl .44 is pivoted,

as at 25, on the same pivotal center as the companion actuating lever 2d, so that no movement is transmitted to the holding pawls during the operation of said levers, the active awl 27 merely remaining in engagement with its wheel 8 to prevent a backward movement thereof. On the other hand each feed pawl 28 is pivoted at 80 to its actuating lever 24 to the rear of the pivot 25 thereof and will partake of the movement of its actuating lever to effect a feed of the associated wheel 8 when in engagement therewith. v

Associated with each feed pawl 28 is a stop pin 31 projecting upward from the switching member 26. The relation of each stoppin 31 to its pawl 28 is such that when a pawl 28 engages its wheel 8 the companion stop pin 31 will be out of contact with the pawl, as shown at the left hand side .of Fig. 1. When, however, the switching member 26 is shifted, the stop 31 of the active pawl 28 will engage it and carry it out of en gagement with the associated ratchet wheel 8, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1. Each pawl 28 when thus shifted out of engagement is adapted to contact with the companion feed pawl 27 and carry it out of engagement with itswheel 8.

From what has been said it will be understood that each actuation of a printing key 17 iseffective through the universal bar 18,

rock shaft 20, links 23 and levers 2% to actuate,

both pawls 28, to feed the ribbon in one direction or the other depending on which pawl 28 is the effective pawl.

- The switching member 26, in the present instance, is in the nature of a sheet-metal bar having upstanding ears 32 at the ends there of. Each of these cars carries a pin 83 projecting outward therefrom through a bearing opening in a side plate l of the frame and extending beyond the outer face of such side plate. This provides means for supporting the switching or shifting bar'26 for endwise movement, and also provides means whereby said bar may be shifted at will by the hands of the operator.

In order to assure a completion of the shifting movement of the bar 26 when started, and to prevent an accidental shifting of the bar from its shifted position, there is provided a detent spring 34 pivotaly connected at one end to a f xed pin 35 and at its opposite end to a depending pin 36 on the bar 26. The force of this spring 34 is exerted in either one direction or the other on the bar 26 when its dead center position is passed, depending on the direction in which the bar is moved.

In effecting an automatic reversal in the direction of the feed of the ribbon, the interponent of the exhausted spool is dropped,

as hereinbefore explained, into the path of the associated member 16 which constitutes the rear arm of the companion actuating lever 24. The pivotal movement of this lever 24 having'thus been arrested or blocked by the'con'ipanion interponent 15, the actuation of a printing key will tend to actuate said lever and the reactive force of such attempted operation of the lever will be exertedthrough ns pivot 25' to shift the bar '26 to the left as the parts appear in Fig. 2,

or to the right if the interponent 15 of the right hand spool is dropped. This will result in shifting the inactive pawls 27 and 28 into efiective position and the effective pawls to ineffective position, therebyautomatically reversing the direction of the feed of the ribbon, winding it on the empty spool and off of the full spool. 1

In addition to the foregoing mechanism there is provided on the rock shaft 20 an additional crank arm 37, which is connected to a link 38 suitably connected to a ribbon vibrator (not shown), as in my previously ,mentioned application, but which for the purposes of the present invention, it is unnecessary to disclose. The rock shaft 20 and theparts connected therewith are returned to normal position by a spring 39.

The mechanism thus far described is the same as that disclosed in my application hereinbefore referred to.

It has been found-in practice that at times the shifting member 26 will be accidentally held in a centralized neutral position at which time both sets of pawls 27 and 28 remain ineffective, and as long as the machine remains in this condition there can be no feed of the ribbon. The operator may not observethiscondition and imperfect work will result. This condition does not result, ordinarily,from any faulty operation of the reversing mechanism, whether the latter be actuated automatically or by hand. It resultsordinarily from handling the machine. .Thus', t is customary in moving the machine to place the hands, on opposite sides thereof afndlift it inthis manner. This brings the hands of the operator against the pins which effects a shifting of the bar 26 to a .centralizedneutral position where it is held by the operator,- the spring'detent 34 at this time being dead centered or substantially dead centered; The operator then places the machine down at a convenient place where it is to be operated,-without observing the condition of the machine and the ribbon will not feed when the machine. is

operated. 7

Now in order to overcome the foregoing difficulty I have provided automatically op erating means for shifting the ribbon reversing means from a central, neutral, or non-efi'ective position to an effective ribbon feeding position'in the event that, for any cause, such mechanism be accidentally stalled, left or held in such ineffective condition. I believe that I am the first, to have provided any such construction and wish to be understood as claiming the same broadly.

In the present embodiment of my invention, and in its application to the machine referred to, I have added a forwardly projecting extension 40 on the shiftable bar 26. This extension maybe in the nature of a separate piece fixed to the bar 26, or may be formed integral therewith. Theforward end of this extension is beveled in opposite direction to provide two oppositely disposed cam faces or edges 41 meetingat a' central point 42. An upwardly and rearwardly. ex-

tending actuatingmember or arm '43 has its U-shaped base 44 secured by a screw45 tothe rock shaft 20, which is angularin cross section. In this manner the arm 43 is fixed to rock with the shaft 20. The rear free end of the arm 43 is beveled at 46 where it is adapted to coact with one or the other of the cam faces 41- under conditions which will presently appear. The relation of the parts is such that ifthe bar 26 be at one end or the other of its shifting movement, then the arm 43 will be clear of the cam faces 41 in its vibrating movement. If, however, the bar 26 for any reason becomes stalled or is held in its centered position, holding both sets of pawls 27 and 28 out of operation, this will result in bringing and holding'the point '42 substantially in alignment with the freeend of the arm In reaching'this position it is necessary tocam the arm 43 forward against the force of the spring '39 where itmay be held by the extension 40 carrying the cams 41. At this time a depression of a. printing key will result in rocking the ar1n43 further forward and when pressure is released from the depressed printing keythe reaction ofthe spring 39 will cause the arm 43 to move rearward to normalpositiomand said arm acting on one or the otherof the cam faces :41 will cause the bar 26 to be shifted either toright or left andbring one'or the other of the two One or more strokesof the printing-keys will be 'efiective to attain the end in question, usually two strokes will'sufiice, and sometimes one stroke. It is immaterial in which direction thebar 26 is shifted. If it happens, for example, to'be shifted in a direction that will cause the ribbon to be fed 03 a spool that has just started to have the ribbon wound on it, then the automatic ribbon reverse will function as soon as the ribbon on such spool has been exhausted therefrom and it will be turned in the opposite direction to wind the ribbon on it again.

It wil'l be understood that the devices of 'my inventionv are in the nature of safety de-' vices or auxiliary controlling means that are seen that I have provided simple and effective means for attaining. the ends pointed out and that such means may be readily applied to the machine and ribbon reversing mechanism referred to, without modifying, or materially modifying, the existingstructural features thereof. It is again pointed out, nevertheless,that the invention is not limited to-embodlment 1n such machine or to 1tscomb-1na tion with such mechanism, as it is capable of use in many machines thatva-ry widely 1 in construction. The invention is broadly claimed hereln and various chan es may be made in the construction without departing from my invention as it is defined in the accompanying claims. i

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v e l. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism, and automatically operating: means forswitching said mechanism 7 to a ribbon-feeding condition only in the event that it becomes stalled in a neutral non-ribbon-feeding condition.

' 2. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism including a switching element for changing the direction of feed of the ribbon, and automatically operating means that are brought into use and operate on the switching element to move it to a ribbon-feeding position only in the event that said switchingelement becomes stalled in a neutral non-ribbon-feeding position.

3. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism including a switching element for changing the-direction of feed of the ribbon, and auxiliary automatically operating means including an actuating member operated at each actuation of a printing key and means for bringing said switching element into control of said actuating member foroperation'thereby only in the event that said switching element becomes stalled in a neutralnon-ribbon-feedmg position. f v

4. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism includinga switching element for changing the direct-ion of feed of the ribbon, and automatically operating means including printing keys, anractuating member actuated at an operation of any of said keys, a member connected with said switching member and brought into cooperative relation with said actuating member for a shifting of theswitching member thereby only in the event thatthe switching member becomes stalled in a neutral non-ribbonfeeding position. V

5. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing means including a switching ele ment that is shiftedin one direction or the other and thereby determines the direction of the feed of theribbon, and automatically operating means that are brought into use to shift said switching element to a ribbon feeding position only in the event that said switching elementbecomes stalled in a neutral non-ribbon-feeding position, said automatically operating-means including an actuating device that is operated at each actuation of any of the printing keys, and a cooperating device on the switching element that is brought into cooperative relation with said actuating device foractuation'thereby by the positioning of the switching element in such neutral position. i

6. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversin means, and automatically operatin auxiliary controlling means for shifting said reversingmeans to bring about a feed of the ribbon, said auxiliary means being normally ineffective and rendered effective by a conditioning of the ribbon-feed and reversing means so that it is ineffective to feed the ribbon. I 7. The combination of ribbon-feeding'and reversing means including a shiftable reversing member the position of which at one end or the otherofits throw determines the direction ofthefeed of tne ribbon and the intermediate positioning of which renders the feed mechanism ineffective, and automatically operating auxiliary controlling means that are operative onsaid reversing member only when it is in said intermediate position at which time the auxiliary controlling means are effective to shift the reversing member to an end of its throw and thereby render the ribbon-feed mechanism effective.

8. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing means including a shiftable reversingmember the position of which at one end or the other of itsjthrow determines the direction of the feed of the ribbonand the intermediate positioning of which renders the feed mechanism ineffective, and automatically operating auxiliary controlling means that are operative on" said" reversing member. only when it is in said lntermedlate position at which time the auxiliary controlling means are effective to shift'the reversing member to anend of its throwand thereby render the ribbon feed mechanism effective, said auxiliary controlling means comprising a double face cam, a member that coacts therewith, and

means controlled by each actuation of any of I the printing keys to bring said cam and its coacting member when they are in cooperative relation into use one on the other to effect a relative shifting movement between the two.

9. The combination of ribbon-feeding and i reversing means including a shiftable reversing member the position of which at one end or the other of its throw determines the direction of the feed of the ribbon and the inter- I mediate positioning of which renders the feed mechanism ineffective, and automatically operating auxiliary controllii means that are operative on said reversing member only when it is in said intermediate position at by an actuation of any of the printing keys for operating said actuating member.

10. The combination of two ribbon spools, a ratchet wheel for each ribbon spool, a feed pawl for each ratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawls at the actuation of any printing key, shifting means for shifting one of said pawls into cooperation with its ratchet wheel when the other pawl is shifted out of cooperation with its ratchet wheel, said sh ift- 'ing means including a switching member shiftable in one direction or the other to de 'termine the'direction offeed of the ribbon;

and automatically operating auxiliary shifting means operative on said switching memher to shift it only when the switching member is stalled in an intermediate position and both feed pawls are maintained out of co- 7 operatlon with their ratchet wheels.

11. The combination of two ribbon spools, a ratchet wheel for each ribbon spool, iced pawl for each ratchetwheel, means for actu- V ating said pawls at the actuation of any ios her to shift it only when the switching member is stalled in an intermediate position and both feed pawls are maintained out of cooperation with their ratchet wheels, said auxiliary shifting means comprising a double cam on the shifting member, an actuating member cooperating therewith, and means controlled by an actuation of any of the printing keys for operating said actuating member.

12. The combination of two ribbon spools, a ratchet wheel for each ribbon spool, a feed pawl for each ratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawls at the actuation of any printing key, shifting means for shifting one of "l pawls into cooperation with its ratchet wheel when the other pawl is shifted out of cooperation with its ratchet wheel, said shifting means including a switching member shiftable in one direction or the other to determine the direction of feed of the ribbon, and automatically operating auxiliary shifting means operative on said switching mem her to shift it only when the switching member is stalled in an intermediate position and both feed pawl-s are maintained out of cooperation with their ratchet wheels, said auxiliary shifting means comprising a double cam on the shifting member, and an auto matically operated actuating member with which said cam is brought into cooperative relation only when said shifting memberis stalled in an intermediate position where the actuating member is effective on the cam to shift said shifting member and assure a feed of the ribbon.

13. The combination of two ribbon spools, a ratchet wheel for each ribbon spool, a feed pawl for each ratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawls at the actuation of any printing key, shifting means for shifting one of said pawls into cooperation with its ratchet wheel when the other pawl is shifted out of cooperation ith its ratchet wheel, said shifting means including a switching member shiftable in one direction or the other to determine the direction of feed of the ribbon, and automatically operating auxiliary shifting means operative on said switching member to shift it only when the switching memher is stalled in an intermediate position and both feed pawl-s are maintained out of cooperation with their ratchet wheels, said auxiliary shifting means comprising a double cam on the shifting member, an automatically operating actuating member with which said cam is brought into cooperative relation only when said shifting member is stalled in an intermediate position where the actuating member is effective on the cam to shift said shifting member and assure a feed of the ribbon, and means controlled by an actuationof any of the printing keys for actuating said actuating member.

14. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism, and automatically operating auxiliary shifting mechanism operative'on said reversing mechanism to shift it only in the event that it is stalledin a position where the ribbon-feed mechanism is rendered ineffective, said auxiliary shifting mechanism being ineffective on the reversing mechanism at any other time.

15. The combination of ribbon-feeding and reversing mechanism, and automatically operating auxiliary shifting mechanism operative on said reversing mechanism to shift it only in the event that it is stalled in a position where the ribbon-feed mechanism is rendered ineffective, said auxiliary shifting mechanism comprising a double cam carried by a part of the reversing mechanism, an actuating member cooperative with said cam, a rock shaft which carries said actuating member, a universal bar connected with and rocking said shaft, and printing key levers operative on said universal bar.

16. The combination of two ribbon spools,

a ratchet wheel for each ribbon spool, a feed pawl for each ratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawls at the actuation of any printing key, shifting means for shifting one of said pawls into cooperation with its ratchet wheel when the other pawl is shifted out of cooperation with its ratchet wheel, said shifting means including a switching member shiftablein one direction or the other to determine the direction of feed of the ribbon, means operable at will by hand for shifting said switching member, automatically operating means for shifting said switching member when an end of the ribbon is reached, and automatically operating auxiliary shifting means operative on said switching member to shift it only when the switching member is stalled in an intermediate position and both feed pawls are maintained out of cooperation with their ratchet wheels.

17. The combination with ribbon feed and reversing mechanism including means for automatically reversing the direction of the feed of the ribbon when an end thereof is reached and also including hand actuated means that enable the direction of the feed of the ribbon to be reversed at will, of auxiliary automatically operating shifting means operative on said ribbon reversing mechanism only in the event that it becomes stalled in a position where the ribbon feed mechanism is rendered ineffective through the accidental handling of the said hand actuated means or for any other reason, said auxiliary shifting means being ineffective on the reversing mechanism at any other time.

Signed at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 17th day of July, A. D. 1929.

-GEORGE G. GOING. 

